Science Fiction TV Shows from Best to Worst, As Voted by IMDB Voters
by tomh1138-1 | created - 16 Dec 2015 | updated - 07 Jan 2016 | PublicExcluding animated shows and superhero shows, as that would make this list way too long.
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1. Firefly (2002–2003)
TV-14 | 45 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Five hundred years in the future, a renegade crew aboard a small spacecraft tries to survive as they travel the unknown parts of the galaxy and evade warring factions as well as authority agents out to get them.
Stars: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin
Votes: 281,444
Ratings: 9.1/10 from 173,777 users | Top Rated TV #16
2. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
TV-PG | 51 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Ordinary people find themselves in extraordinarily astounding situations, which they each try to solve in a remarkable manner.
Stars: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, Jay Overholts, James Turley
Votes: 92,991
Ratings: 9.0/10 from 40,049 users | Top Rated TV #19
3. Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)
TV-14 | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
Stars: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, James Callis
Votes: 175,412
Ratings: 8.8/10 from 113,266 users | Top Rated TV #78 (The regular modern series)
4. The X-Files (1993–2018)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Two F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.
Stars: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis
Votes: 249,433
Ratings: 8.7/10 from 123,099 users | Top Rated TV #81
5. Doctor Who (2005–2022)
TV-PG | 45 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
The further adventures in time and space of the alien adventurer known as the Doctor and his companions from planet Earth.
Stars: Jodie Whittaker, Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie, Matt Smith
Votes: 246,252
Ratings: 8.8/10 from 137,783 users | Top Rated TV #83 (The revival series)
6. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
TV-14 | 90 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
In the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on the Satellite of Love with the help of his robot friends: Cambot, Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot.
Stars: Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy
Votes: 25,831
Ratings: 8.7/10 from 15,894 users | Top Rated TV #90
7. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)
TV-PG | 42 min | Short, Comedy, Musical
An aspiring supervillain must balance his career and his pursuit of a beautiful do-gooder.
Stars: Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, Simon Helberg
Votes: 44,235
Ratings: 8.7/10 from 32,045 users | Top Rated TV #100
8. Battlestar Galactica (2003)
TV-14 | 92 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Following the destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol by the Cylons, a rag-tag fugitive fleet of the last remnants of mankind flees the pursuing Cylons while simultaneously searching for their true home: Earth.
Stars: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber
Votes: 80,101
Ratings: 8.7/10 from 43,377 users | Top Rated TV #105 (Just the kickoff mini-series)
9. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.
Stars: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton
Votes: 135,760
Ratings: 8.7/10 from 58,710 users | Top Rated TV #108
10. The Prisoner (1967–1968)
TV-PG | 1,010 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
After he resigns, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is actually a bizarre prison. He refuses to give his warders information while attempting to escape.
Stars: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat, Peter Swanwick, Peter Brace
Votes: 15,023
Ratings: 8.7/10 from 8,120 users | Top Rated TV #121
11. Doctor Who (1963–1989)
TV-PG | 25 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The adventures in time and space of the Doctor, a Time Lord who changes appearance and personality by regenerating when near death, and is joined by companions in battles against aliens and other megalomaniacs.
Stars: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker
Votes: 39,493
Ratings: 8.5/10 from 23,630 users | Top Rated TV #178 (The original series)
12. Red Dwarf (1988– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.
Stars: Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn
Votes: 37,254
Ratings: 8.5/10 from 22,620 users | Top Rated TV #180
13. Lost (2004–2010)
TV-14 | 5,445 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.
Stars: Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Yunjin Kim, Evangeline Lilly
Votes: 594,340
Ratings: 8.5/10 from 351,038 users |Top Rated TV #199
14. Star Trek (1966–1969)
TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.
Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols
Votes: 92,778
Ratings: 8.4/10 from 45,023 users | Top Rated TV #215
15. Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A secret military team, SG-1, is formed to explore other planets through the recently discovered Stargates.
Stars: Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge
Votes: 101,270
Ratings: 8.4/10 from 59,294 users | Top Rated TV #217
16. Orphan Black (2013–2017)
TV-MA | 44 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A streetwise hustler is pulled into a compelling conspiracy after witnessing the suicide of a girl who looks just like her.
Stars: Tatiana Maslany, Dylan Bruce, Jordan Gavaris, Kevin Hanchard
Votes: 116,874
Ratings: 8.4/10 from 56,915 users | Top Rated TV #233
17. Life on Mars (2006–2007)
TV-14 | 959 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
After a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but the police force of long ago needs his help.
Stars: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews
Votes: 32,308
Ratings: 8.4/10 from 23,053 users | Top Rated TV #235
18. Farscape (1999–2003)
TV-14 | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Thrown into a distant part of the universe, an Earth astronaut finds himself part of a fugitive alien starship crew.
Stars: Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Lani John Tupu
Votes: 40,226
Ratings: 8.3/10 from 25,419 users
19. Babylon 5 (1993–1998)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the mid 23rd century, the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5, located in neutral territory, is a major focal point for political intrigue, racial tensions and various wars over the course of five years.
Stars: Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs, Stephen Furst, Andreas Katsulas
Votes: 34,577
Ratings: 8.2/10 from 21,445 users
20. Eerie, Indiana (1991–1992)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Teenage weirdness investigator Marshall Teller adventures through his new small-town home with his friends, geeky Simon Holmes and mysterious Dash X.
Stars: Omri Katz, Justin Shenkarow, Mary-Margaret Humes, Francis Guinan
Votes: 6,287
Ratings: 8.2/10 from 3,488 users
21. Stargate: Atlantis (2004–2009)
TV-PG | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
An international team of scientists and military personnel discover a Stargate network in the Pegasus Galaxy and come face-to-face with a new, powerful enemy: The Wraith.
Stars: Joe Flanigan, Rachel Luttrell, David Hewlett, Jason Momoa
Votes: 71,640
Ratings: 8.1/10 from 46,408 users
22. Quantum Leap (1989–1993)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
During an experiment into time travel, a scientist finds himself trapped in the past, "leaping" into the lives of different people, sorting out their problems and changing history in hopes of getting back to his own life in the present.
Stars: Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell, Deborah Pratt, Dennis Wolfberg
Votes: 36,428
Ratings: 8.1/10 from 19,229 users
23. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the vicinity of the liberated planet of Bajor, the Federation space station Deep Space Nine guards the opening of a stable wormhole to the far side of the galaxy.
Stars: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig
Votes: 70,685
Ratings: 7.9/10 from 30,863 users
24. Torchwood (2006–2011)
TV-MA | 50 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
The members of the Torchwood Institute, a secret organization founded by the British Crown, fight to protect the Earth from extraterrestrial and supernatural threats.
Stars: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Kai Owen, Gareth David-Lloyd
Votes: 43,421
Ratings: 7.8/10 from 32,529 users
25. The Twilight Zone (1985–1989)
TV-PG | 45 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A collection of tales which range from comic to tragic, but often have a wicked sense of humor and an unexpected twist.
Stars: Robin Ward, Charles Aidman, Richard Mulligan, William Atherton
Votes: 12,238
Ratings: 7.8/10 from 5,481 users
26. Stargate Universe (2009–2011)
TV-PG | 43 min | Drama, Sci-Fi
Trapped on an Ancient spaceship billions of light-years from home, a group of soldiers and civilians struggle to survive and find their way back to Earth.
Stars: Robert Carlyle, Louis Ferreira, Brian J. Smith, Elyse Levesque
Votes: 53,236
Ratings: 7.7/10 from 36,949 users
27. Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)
TV-PG | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Pulled to the far side of the galaxy, where the Federation is seventy-five years away at maximum warp speed, a Starfleet ship must cooperate with Maquis rebels to find a way home.
Stars: Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson, Robert Duncan McNeill
Votes: 77,218
Ratings: 7.7/10 from 35,960 users
28. Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1975)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The further adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.
Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei
Votes: 8,162
Ratings: 7.7/10 from 3,845 users
29. The Time Tunnel (1966–1967)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Two scientists with a secret time travel project find themselves trapped in the time stream and appearing in notable periods of history.
Stars: James Darren, Robert Colbert, Whit Bissell, John Zaremba
Votes: 4,224
Ratings: 7.7/10 from 1,606 users
30. Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A century before Captain Kirk's five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the formation of the Federation.
Stars: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating
Votes: 59,027
Ratings: 7.5/10 from 27,910 users
31. Sliders (1995–2000)
TV-PG | 60 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
A boy genius and his comrades travel to different parallel universes, trying to find their way back home.
Stars: Jerry O'Connell, Sabrina Lloyd, John Rhys-Davies, Cleavant Derricks
Votes: 20,372
Ratings: 7.5/10 from 12,358 users
32. The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007–2011)
TV-PG | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, with the help of her adopted son, his friends, and an intelligent supercomputer, combats evil alien forces here on Earth.
Stars: Elisabeth Sladen, Daniel Anthony, Alexander Armstrong, Tommy Knight
Votes: 6,748
Ratings: 7.5/10 from 3,125 users
33. Max Headroom (1987–1988)
60 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
In the near future, an intrepid investigative TV reporter does his job with the help of his colleagues and a computerized version of himself.
Stars: Matt Frewer, Amanda Pays, George Coe, Chris Young
Votes: 3,005
Ratings: 7.4/10 from 1,587 users
34. Lost in Space (1965–1968)
TV-G | 60 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
A space colony family struggles to survive when a spy/accidental stowaway throws their ship hopelessly off course.
Stars: Guy Williams, June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen
Votes: 8,850
Ratings: 7.3/10 from 3,531 users
35. The Twilight Zone (2002–2003)
TV-14 | 43 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
This second revival of The Twilight Zone (1959) presents tales of suspense, fantasy, science fiction and horror.
Stars: Forest Whitaker, June B. Wilde, Chris Shields, Tangi Miller
Votes: 6,622
Ratings: 7.3/10 from 3,191 users
36. Land of the Lost (1974–1977)
TV-G | 30 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
A family finds themselves fighting to survive in a land populated by dinosaurs and otherworldly beings.
Stars: Wesley Eure, Kathy Coleman, Spencer Milligan, Phillip Paley
Votes: 3,326
Ratings: 7.3/10 from 1,573 users
37. Max Headroom (1985 TV Movie)
57 min | Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
In the dystopic near future, a crusading TV reporter investigates news stories with the help of a wisecracking computer version of himself.
Directors: Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton | Stars: Matt Frewer, Nickolas Grace, Hilary Tindall, William Morgan Sheppard
Votes: 2,278
Ratings: 7.3/10 from 1,379 users
38. Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
After the destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Mankind, the last major fighter carrier leads a makeshift fugitive fleet on a desperate search for the legendary planet Earth.
Stars: Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Herbert Jefferson Jr.
Votes: 17,383
Ratings: 7.1/10 from 9,630 users
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